Bringing new drugs to patients is an incredibly difficult task that involves numerous indispensable actors – from pioneering entrepreneurs and CEOs, to industry experts, to dedicated researchers, to regulators who keep everyone on the right tracks.

Staying on Target

What characteristics make a cancer therapy more likely to effectively treat disease?

Roisin McGuigan
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05/09/2018

Targeted therapies have had a huge impact on cancer treatment, in some cases significantly improving patient survival – but not in all cases. To treat the cancer, the drug must, of course, reach the tumor tissue and be taken up by cells, but this doesn’t always happen effectively despite targeting efforts. Why not?

Tumors and their surrounding environments are complex and heterogeneous – resulting in different responses to the same drug. Katarzyna A. Rejniak and Aleksandra Karolak of the Rejniak Lab at the Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute in Tampa, Florida, are part of a team that has combined mathematical modeling and single-cell imaging of cancer cells to better understand what drug properties make for more efficient drug uptake (1). Here, we find out more.

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About the Author

Roisin McGuigan

I have an extensive academic background in the life sciences, having studied forensic biology and human medical genetics in my time at Strathclyde and Glasgow Universities. My research, data presentation and bioinformatics skills plus my ‘wet lab’ experience have been a superb grounding for my role as a Deputy Editor at Texere Publishing. The job allows me to utilize my hard-learned academic skills and experience in my current position within an exciting and contemporary publishing company.